Trinidadian's Batting Lifts Windies

TINO GEDDES SPORTS OF THE CARIBBEAN

September 10, 2000|TINO GEDDES SPORTS OF THE CARIBBEAN

The West Indies "A" team cricketers found an unlikely batting hero in Trinidadian pacer Mervyn Dillon, who had earlier shone with the ball.

After dismissing the touring team for a modest 144 with Guyanese pacer Colin Stuart picking up four wickets and Dillon three, the W.I. front line batsmen put on a pathetic display, losing seven wickets before reaching 100.

However, Dillon with 52 and leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, who got 38, put on a valuable eighth-wicket partnership of 68 to give the home team a comfortable first-innings lead of 58.

In their second innings, South Africa "A" struggled to 50-3, with Dillon, Marlon Black and Runako Morton sharing the wickets. ...

The dejected West Indies cricketers returned to the Caribbean last week following their disappointing 3-1 defeat by England.

Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose apart, the only bright spot came from young Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was easily the most confident and fluent batsman.

For Ambrose, the fifth Test was his last for the West Indies till he decides whether to travel to Australia for a four-month tour.

Former pacer Andy Roberts says Walsh should make way for youngsters, but calls for him to stay far outnumber those to go. ... The dashing former Guyanese left-handed opening batsman Roy Fredericks died in a New York hospital last week after a battle with lung cancer. Fredericks, who played 59 Tests for the West Indies and scored 4,334 runs, was 58.

A former sports minister in Guyana, Fredericks is remembered for a spectacular 169 against Australia in the 1975-76 series. Tributes to the exciting stroke-player poured in from all over the Caribbean and other cricketing countries.

He will be buried Monday, and the three-day game between South Africa "A" and Guyana scheduled to begin on the same day has been pushed back to Tuesday.

Soccer

Trinidad and Tobago, CONCACAF final-round qualifying competitors, made progress in the FIFA Coca-Cola world rankings.

Jamaica jumped a significant eight places to be in 38th spot while Caribbean champion Trinidad and Tobago remained at an all-time best 29th, which it achieved in the August rankings.

Brazil remained No. 1 over France and Argentina, with the Czech Republic fourth, Spain fifth and Italy sixth.

The top Caribbean teams are rounded out by Cuba 76th, Haiti 83rd, Barbados 99th, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 124th, St. Lucia 129th, Grenada 138th, St. Kitts/Nevis 146th and Antigua 148th. ...

There was good news for Jamaica's in-form striker Onandi Lowe as X-Rays showed no fracture to the clavicle after a heavy fall in Jamaica's semifinal qualifying-round game against St. Vincent.

The big Jamaican has scored nine goals in his team's last five internationals, including the World Cup qualifiers. ...

Jamaican utility player Winston Griffith will not be joining fellow Jamaican Ricardo Gardener at English First Division club Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton's manager, Sam Allardyce, said other players on trial were a little more advanced than the Jamaican.

Griffith, who played for Bolton Reserves during the week, was also unable to secure a contract at second division club Reading. ...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is most unhappy that ace striker Dwight Yorke of Trinidad returned to England 24 hours later than scheduled.